A European crackdown on car pollution was attacked yesterday as a "hypocritical compromise" which contradicted the EU's claim to be leading the way on climate change.

Days after Brussels boasted of its leading role at the Bali environment talks last week, it emerged that its new proposals on cutting CO2 emissions have been drastically weakened after months of intense lobbying by car makers.

Under the proposals, car makers will be legally bound to produce new cars emitting not more than 130g of CO2 per kilometre by 2012.

But manufacturers were already supposed to have reached a 120g maximum emission two years ago. Average car emissions currently run at 160g of CO2 per kilometre.

Green MEP Caroline Lucas said the deal - and other proposals due today on aircraft emissions - exposed the Commission as "hypocritical".

She went on: "Both run the risk of severely compromising the EU's strong rhetoric on climate change after concessions were made to the car and aviation industries.

"After taking credit for leadership on climate issues at the Bali talks the EU is due to fail at the first real test of its own commitment.

"Transport is the fastest growing source of greenhouse gas emissions, yet the two key decisions this week will set out targets on car and plane emissions which fall far short of what's needed.

"The EU looks bereft of political leadership on climate change while it holds on to these weak targets."

Tony Bosworth, Friends of the Earth's senior transport campaigner, said the EU's climate change credibility was at stake: "The EU must rise to the challenge, not back down in the face of selfinterested lobbying from the car industry."

He said the changes needed to meet tough CO2 emissions limits were not "rocket science".

Emissions were directly linked to fuel consumption, so cutting car weight, improving engines, particularly through the use of hybrid motors, and introducing "stop-start" technology which cuts the motor while stopped, were all readily-available options.

But Brussels also faced criticism from the car industry.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said the emissions limits would burden Germany and its car makers disproportionately.

Her environment minister, Sigmar Gabriel, called it a "competition war" against the German industry to benefit French and Italian rivals.

German producers of heavier luxury vehicles such as Porsche, with by far the highest emissions of any major carmaker, BMW and Mercedes-Benz, could face billions of euros in fines unless they fall into line.

Britain may seek concessions from the EU for smaller-volume car makers, including Jaguar and Land Rover - with a total exclusion from any legally-binding targets for niche manufacturers such as Morgan.